31 MARCH 2015

Matthysse Destroys Peterson in 3

Matthysse Stops Peterson in 3

By Jason Pribila: Ringside in Atlantic City: On the 11th Anniversary of Gatti-Ward 1 it was only fitting that an important pick ‘em prize fight was taking place at the house that Gatti built, Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall. On this night Lamont Peterson met Lucas Matthysse with a date against Danny Garcia on the line.

A fight that featured two of the best in a loaded junior welterweight division promised fireworks. We got fireworks, but they were all distributed by the bad ass from Argentina. It took Lucas Matthysse about 2 minutes and 45 seconds to close the distance. He landed a looping left hook at the end of the first round to win the opening stanza on my card.

Fellow boxing writer Steve Kim labeled Matthysse “The Machine” and that is exactly how he performed in the second round. Midway through the round he landed a big right hand to the temple that hurt Peterson. Matthysse then landed an equilibrium shattering left hook that sent Peterson to the canvas after a delayed reaction. Peterson beat the count and went back to his corner to regroup.

Peterson fought round three as either a desperate fighter or a determined one. Either way he sat down on his punches and tried to even the score by taking the fight to Matthysse on the inside. Bad idea.

Midway through the round the fighters traded left hooks, Matthysse’s landed first and Peterson crumbled. A lesser fighter would have stayed on the canvas, but Peterson made it to his feet. Matthysse smelled blood and another left hook closed the show. The beat down was so decisive that even Steve Smoger waved the out off.

The official time was 2:14 of round three. Lucas Matthysse now has a signature win. He now has a date with Danny Garcia, and with Al Haymon behind him, the sky is the limit for a fighter that many argue has never lost a fight.